When the likes of Jay Mariotti and Warren Sapp ran afoul of the law recently, both ESPN and the NFL Network acted swiftly to take the respective mouthpieces off the air. Such actions are in stark contrast to CBS, who provided a Sunday morning vehicle to former Broncos/Ravens TE Shannon Sharpe, despite the analyst being the subject of a temporary restraining order filed last Thursday in connection with a domestic violence case. The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick considers Sharpe’s teflon status.
Sharpe not only appeared on CBS’ pregame show yesterday, but the network seemed eager to provide him the benefit of all doubts. CBS made it clear that no police charges have been filed, and that Sharpe is highly regarded among staffers.
But it seems as if someone in a position to know opened the police book on Sharpe late last week. Since 1994, it also was reported, 10 civil complaints have been filed against him in Fulton County, all by women, including a battery charge by the mother of one of his children. That charge was later dropped after mediation.
Sharpe also is involved in a child support case in another Georgia jurisdiction.
If even partially true, this all makes you wonder if CBS did its homework six years ago when it hired Sharpe, or whether the network just liked the fact that he was a talkative, accomplished player who flexed his muscles for the cameras. n TV, that’s often all it takes.